Laminated label structure



Feb. 26, 1957 R. s. AVERY 2,783,172

LAMINATED LABEL STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 2, 1954 /6 4 /4 16. 3 "ii INVENTOR. w 5. 4 E BY Ar wmmi United States Patent Ofiice 2,783,172 Patented Feb. 26, 1957 LAMINATED LABEL STRUCTURE 2 Ray Stanton Avery, Monrovia, Calif., assignor to Avery Adhesive Label Crp., Monrovia, Calif., a corporation of California This application relates to a label structure, and more particularly to a label structure of laminated construction.

In the prior use of labels for identifying objects or packages, it was customary to print or write the identifying indicia on one surface of a single sheet of material having an adhesive on its opposite surface. The label was then afiixed to the object by means of the adhesive. I

When the labels were of the pressure sensitive adhesive type, it was customary to print the labels on a sheet of label material'having a pressure sensitive adhesive on its lower surface, the label sheet being mounted on a removable backing sheet, and then die out the individual labels against the relatively hard surface of the removable backing without cutting into the backing sheet. When used, the labels were peeled from the backing and applied to the object to be identified thereby. Labels made in this manner were subject to damage by otherobjects rubbing against the printed surface of the label.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a novel form of label of the pressure sensitive adhesive type, wherein the printed surface of the label is protected against abrasion when the label is in place on an object to be identified thereby.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel form of laminated label structure wherein the laminations consist of a top or label sheet, an intermediate transparent sheet and a removable backing sheet, and wherein the laminations are all held together by pressure sensitive adhesive on the undersurface of each of the label and transparent sheets.

The preferred form of the invention is described in the following detailed specification, and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a label constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. l and illustrates the manner in which the labels are formed in a continuous strip. 1

As best seen by a comparison of Figs. 2 and 3, a removable backing sheet 10, made of glassine or similar material, has mounted on its upper surface a plurality of labels generally indicated at 13a comprised of intermediate sheets 11 of acetate or similar transparent material, the acetate sheets 11 having a pressure sensitive adhesive 12 on their undersurface. A label sheet 13a, is mounted on each of the acetate sheets 11 by means of a pressure sensitive adhesive 14 on its undersurface. A die cut 15 separates the label sheet 13 into an outer rim portion 16 and an inner label portion 17.

in the manufacture of the labels presented herein, the removable backing sheet 10, the transparent acetate sheet 11 and the label paper 13 are fed in continuous sheet form into a label making press. The adhesives 12 and 14 are applied to the underside of the acetate sheet 11 and the sheet of label paper 13, respectively, and the three sheets 10, 11 and 13 are led under a pressure roller in superposed relation. The laminated sheet thus formed is led under a die cutting roller, whereby certain dies acting against the relatively hard surface of the backing sheet 10 blank out individual labels 13a, by cutting through both the label sheet and the acetate sheet 11 without making an impression on the backing sheet 10. Other dies make the die cuts 15 in the label sheet 13 only, said dies acting against the relatively hard surface of the acetate sheet 11. The matrix material between the labels thus formed is then stripped from the backing sheet 10, leaving the labels 13a thereon, and the continuous backing sheet 10 is separated into sheets, strips, strip rolls, or individual labels, depending on the method of packaging preferred.

In the use of the labels, the proper identifying indicia is inserted on the upper surface of the portion 17 thereof, or the labels may be printed during manufacture thereof. The portion 17 is peeled from the acetate sheet 11 thereunder and applied to the object to be identified. The backing sheet 10 is then peeled from the undersurface of the acetate sheet 11 and the acetate sheet is applied over the portion 17 previously mounted on the object to protect the indicia on the portion 17 from smearing or other damage. The indicia contained thereon will be visible through the window provided by the original removal of the portion 17 from the upper surface of the acetate sheet 11. 'It will be appreciated that the rim portion 16 of the label 13:: acts as a stiffening member or supporting frame for the thin acetate sheet as it is peeled from the backing sheet 10 or otherwise handled before being placed over the label portion 17. The outer rim portion,16 of the label 13a may subsequently be removed or left as desired.

From the foregoing description it may be seen that I have provided a novel form of laminated label structure which is simple to manufacture, easy to apply and Well protected against smearing and fading after application.

While I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A laminated label structure comprising a backing sheet, a transparent intermediate sheet having a pressure sensitive adhesive on its undersurface mounted on said backing sheet, an upper sheet having a pressure sensitive adhesive on itsundersurface and an upper surface capable of receiving identifying indicia, said upper sheet being mounted on the upper surface of said transparent sheet, whereby said indicia may be imprinted on said upper sheet and said upper sheet peeled from said intermediate sheet and placed on the object to be labeled, and whereby said transparent intermediate sheet may subsequently be peeled from said backing sheet and placed over said upper sheet to protect the identifying indicia thereon.

2. A laminated label structure comprising a backing sheet, a transparent intermediate acetate sheet having a pressure sensitive adhesive on its undersurface mounted on said backing sheet, an upper sheet having a pressure sensitive adhesive on its undersurface and an upper surface capable of receiving identifying indicia, said upper sheet being mounted on the upper surface of said transparent sheet, whereby said indicia may be imprinted on said upper sheet and said upper sheet peeled from said acetate sheet and placed on the object to be labeled, and whereby said transparent acetate sheet may subsequently be peeled from said backing sheet and placed over said upper sheet to protect the identifying indicia thereon.

3. A laminated label structure comprising a backing sheet, a transparent intermediate sheet having a pressure sensitive adhesive on its undersurface mounted on said backing sheet, an upper sheet having a pressure sensitive adhesive on its undersurface and an upper surface capable of receiving identifying indicia, said upper sheet being mounted on the upper surface of said transparent sheet, adie cutjn said upper sheet spaced inwardly from the outer edges thereof and separating said sheet into an inner label portion and an outer rim portion, whereby said indicia may be imprinted on thelabel portion of said upper sheet and said label portion peeled from said intermediate sheet and placed on the object to be labeled, and whereby said transparent intermediate sheet may sub sequently .be peeled from said backing sheet and placed over said label portion of said upper sheet to protect the identifying indicia thereon.

4. A laminated label structure comprising a backing sheet, a transparent intermediate acetate sheet having a pressure sensitive adhesive on its undersurface mounted on said backing sheet, an upper sheet having a pressure sensitive adhesive on its undersurface and an upper surface papable of receiving identifying indicia, said upper sheet being mounted on the upper surface of .said transparent sheet, a die cut in said upper sheet spaced inwardly from the outer edges thereof and separatingsaid sheet into an inner label portion and an outer rim portion, whereby said indicia'may be imprintedon-the label portion of said upper sheet and said label portion peeled from said intermediate sheet and placedon the object to be labeled, and whereby said transparent intermediate sheet may subsequently be peeledtfrom said backingsheet of receiving identifying indicia, said label being of smaller dimensions than said intermediate sheet and being mounted centrally on the upper surface thereof, a rim of label paper having a pressure sensitive adhesive on its undersurface, said rim being mounted on the upper surface of said intermediate sheet surrounding said label, whereby said indieia may be imprinted on said label and said label peeled from said intermediate sheet and placed on the object to be labeled, and whereby said transparent intermediate sheet with the stiffening rim thereon may subsequently be peeled from saidbacking sheet and placed over said label to protect the identifying indicia thereon.

6. A laminated label structure comprising a backing sheet, a transparent acetate intermediateshcet having a pressure sensitive adhesive on its undersurface mounted on said backing sheet, a label having a pressure sensitive adhesive on its undersurface and an upper surface capable of receiving identifying indicia, said label being of smaller dimensions than said intermediate sheet and being mounted centrally on the upper surface thereof, a rim thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Howard June 10, 1902 Howard Sept. l6, 1902 

1. A LAMINATED LABEL STRUCTURE COMPRISING A BACKING SHEET, A TRANSPARENT INTERMEDIATE SHEET HAVING A PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE ON ITS UNDERSURFACE MOUNTED ON SAID BACKING SHEET, AN UPPER SHEET HAVING A PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE ON ITS UNDERSURFACE AND AN UPPER SURFACE CAPABLE OF RECEIVING INDENTIFYING INDICIA, SAID UPPER SHEET BEING MOUNTED ON THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID TRANSPARENT SHEET, WHEREBY SAID INDICIA MAY BE IMPRINTED ON SAID UPPER SHEET AND SAID UPPER SHEET PEELED FROM SAID INTERMEDIATE SHEET AND PLACED ON THE OBJECT TO BE LABELED, AND WHEREBY SAID TRANSPARENT INTERMEDIATE SHEET MAY SUBSEQUENTLY BE PEELED FROM SAID BACKING SHEET AND PLACED OVER SAID UPPER SHEET TO PROTECT THE IDENTIFYING INDICIA THEREON. 